One of These Things First

By: Steven Gaines

Narrated by: Steven Gaines

From New York Times best-selling author Steven Gaines comes a wry and touching memoir of his trials as a gay teen at the famed Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic.

One of These Things First is a poignant reminiscence of a 15-year-old gay Jewish boy's unexpected trajectory from a life behind a rack of dresses in his grandmother's Brooklyn bra-and-girdle store to Manhattan's infamous Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic, whose alumni includes writers, poets, and madmen as well as Marilyn Monroe and best-selling author Steven Gaines.

With a gimlet eye and a true gift for storytelling, Gaines captures his childhood shtetl in Brooklyn, and all its drama and secrets, like an Edward Hopper tableau: his philandering grandfather with his fleet of Cadillacs and Corvettes; a giant, empty movie theater, his portal to the outside world; a shirtless teenage boy pushing a lawnmower; and a pair of tormenting bullies whose taunts drive Gaines to a suicide attempt.

Gaines also takes the listener behind the walls of Payne Whitney - the "Harvard of psychiatric clinics", as Time magazine called it - populated by a captivating group of neurasthenics who affect his life in unexpected ways. The cast of characters includes a famous Broadway producer who becomes his unlikely mentor; an elegant woman who claims to be the ex-mistress of newly elected president John F. Kennedy; a snooty, suicidal architect; and a seductive young contessa. At the center of the story is a brilliant young psychiatrist who promises to cure a young boy of his homosexuality and give him the normalcy he so longs for.

For listeners who love stories of self-transformation, One of These Things First is a fascinating memoir in the vein of Susanna Kaysen's Girl, Interrupted and Augusten Burroughs' Running with Scissors. With its novelistic texture and unflagging narrative, this book is destined to become one of the great indelible works of the memoir genre.

©2016 Steven Gaines (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Delightful!

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful (relatively short) autobiographical piece read by the author. Entertaining, interesting, amusing. I loved that it took place (mostly) in Brooklyn NY. I think The fact that Steven Gaines and I come from similar backgrounds and are close in age probably added a great deal to my enjoyment. Not a prerequisite, though, not by any means.

Enjoyable!

Not what I expected, but definitely worth the listen. This book was insightful from the child male prospective, enjoyed.

Pulls at your heartstrings

The background story of his life in a time where being different and the stuggles and difficulties he had to go through growing up.

It's an interesting look into this man's youth

This book was a nice reminder that there are people who are actually more neurotic than I am. This poor kid. I guess I never really thought about what it must have been like to be gay in an era where it was considered a mental disorder. What a relief that this seems to have changed a great deal in public perception.
I like listening to the stories about his crazy family and the odd balls in his neighborhood. I also found it strange that while his father seemed to be a jerk in some ways he was actually very supportive in others. I don't know many fathers who would take their child daily, for 2 weeks, to where a show was being taped, in the off chance of glimpsing a star. Or who would remain in poverty to send their child to psychoanalysis.
Anyway, it's worth the listen.

Loved it.

Picked this up on the Daily Deal. Had not expected to find it so interesting/enjoyable. One of my two favorite books this year - keep thinking about it. And the author reads it himself . . . always a bonus.

A MUST READ (hear)

Gaines delights in transporting listeners to the very bowels of his NYC past then catapults you into his hilarious and unique world of his stint at Payne Whitney mental hospital. His writing is chalk full of fantastic characters and lively discussions and revelations. Gaines reads this book and I couldnt imagine it any other way. He is a story teller! I got this on sale and honestly, I would have gladly paid full price for this work of art. There isn't a dull moment. A must get!

good story

I liked learning about the psychology used in earlier times. I had not understood how being gay was a disease rather than just the way one is. This helped me to understand a little more

You'd have to be crazy if...

you don't find this book interesting! What stories, and well told! I'm glad I just happened to stumble on this while browsing Audible's choices.

Great listening.

Loved this book. The author made me feel I was actually in New York and at all the places he grew up in and not only to care about him but the people who were in and out of his life.

Interesting

Coming of age when being gay was considered a mental illness, when psychiatrists thought they could "change" people into being straight, was a terrible, heartbreaking time. It makes this book painful to read in spite of the upbeat take the author seems to have on his life now.